ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

MINUTES OF THE meeting

OF THE

JOINT COMMITTEE ON Ways and MeanS/SENATE FINANCE

Seventy-First Session

May 25, 2001

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means/Senate Financewas called to order at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2001. Chairman Morse Arberry Jr. presided in Room 4100 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

Mr. Bob Beers

Mrs. Barbara Cegavske

Mrs. Vonne Chowning

Mrs. Marcia de Braga

Mr. Joseph Dini, Jr.

Ms. Chris Giunchigliani

Mr. David Goldwater

Mr. Lynn Hettrick

Ms. Sheila Leslie

Mr. John Marvel

Mr. David Parks

Mr. Richard D. Perkins

Ms. Sandra Tiffany

SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman

Senator Raymond D. Rawson

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen

Senator Bob Coffin

Senator Bernice Mathews

SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.

Senator William R. O’Donnell

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mark Stevens, Assembly Fiscal Analyst

Gary Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst

Steve Abba, Assembly Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst

Bob Guernsey, Senate Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst

Carol Thomsen, Committee Secretary

Connie Davis, Committee Secretary

Chairman Arberry advised that the Joint Committee was meeting to resolve budget differences, and asked Mark Stevens, Assembly Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB), to present the first budget.

GOV, OFFICE OF CONSUMER HEALTH ASSISTANCE – BUDGET PAGE ELECTED-13

Mr. Stevens explained the difference in budget closures was based upon The Executive Budget recommendation that the Office of Hospital Patients within the Department of Business and Industry be transferred to the Office of Consumer Health Assistance within the Governor’s Office. The Senate closed the budget in agreement with that recommendation, and the Assembly closure retained the Office of Hospital Patients within the Department of Business and Industry.

Gary Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst, LCB, pointed out that the Senate had approved S.B. 573, which combined the offices.

Chairman Arberry advised the Assembly that he would accept a motion to close the budget in agreement with the Senate, which transferred the Office of Hospital Patients to the Office of Consumer Health Assistance.

MR. HETTRICK MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET FOR THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER HEALTH ASSISTANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SENATE CLOSURE.

MS. TIFFANY SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (Mrs. Chowning and Ms. Giunchigliani opposed the motion, and Mrs. de Braga was not present for the vote.)

BUDGET CLOSED.

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CONTROLLER’S OFFICE – BUDGET PAGE ELECTED-76

Mr. Stevens stated the Senate closure of the budget added one management assistant position that was not originally requested in The Executive Budget. The recommendation for the position was requested via a revised Governor’s recommendation submitted after delivery of The Executive Budget, and the Assembly had not approved that position in its closure. Ms. Giunchigliani asked whether the Senate closure included the Letter of Intent suggested by the Assembly regarding the use of travel funds. Senator Raggio requested clarification. Ms. Giunchigliani explained that the Letter of Intent would direct the office to utilize the travel funds specifically for Controller-related business.

MS. GIUNCHIGLIANI MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET FOR THE CONTROLLER’S OFFICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SENATE CLOSURE, INCLUDING A LETTER OF INTENT REGARDING USAGE OF TRAVEL FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR CONTROLLER-RELATED BUSINESS.

MS. TIFFANY SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (Mrs. de Braga was not present for the vote.)

Senator Raggio called for a motion that the Senate concurred with the Assembly closure regarding the Letter of Intent.

SENATOR RAWSON MOVED TO CONCUR WITH THE ASSEMBLY CLOSURE OF THE CONTROLLER’S OFFICE BUDGET REGARDING THE LETTER OF INTENT.

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (Senator Neal and Senator O’Donnell were not present for the vote.)

BUDGET CLOSED.

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SECRETARY OF STATE – BUDGET PAGE ELECTED-81

Mr. Stevens indicated the Senate closure of the budget included the 18 positions recommended in The Executive Budget, plus 2 additional positions, which were requested by the Secretary of State subsequent to the delivery of The Executive Budget. The Senate also provided $170,000 in the second fiscal year for software maintenance within the Secretary of State’s Office. The Assembly closed the budget with approval of 10 of the 18 requested positions, with no action taken on the two additional requested positions. The Assembly provided $140,000 the first year of the biennium, and $180,000 the second year of the biennium for software maintenance.

Ms. Giunchigliani advised the Joint Committee that she had discussed the issue with the Secretary of State’s Office, and would advocate approval of two additional positions, over and above the ten positions previously approved by the Assembly in its budget closure. One of the additional positions would be added to the Elections Division and one to the Information Technology Division. Ms. Giunchigliani suggested the Assembly close in concurrence with the Senate regarding software maintenance costs.

MRS. CHOWNING MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH APPROVAL OF A TOTAL OF 12 POSITIONS, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SENATE CLOSURE REGARDING SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE COSTS.

MR. PARKS SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED.

Senator Raggio called for a motion to concur with the number of approved positions.

SENATOR RAWSON MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH APPROVAL OF A TOTAL OF 12 POSITIONS.

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (Senator Neal and Senator O’Donnell were not present for the vote.)

BUDGET CLOSED.

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PROFICIENCY TESTING – BUDGET PAGE K12ED-32

Senator Raggio noted that the Proficiency Testing budget account was still under discussion and suggested that final action be held until a later date.

W.I.C.H.E. LOAN & STIPEND – BUDGET PAGE WICHE-1

Chairman Arberry indicated the W.I.C.H.E. Loan & Stipend account was also under discussion, and suggested final action be held until a later date.

DMV, FIELD SERVICES – BUDGET PAGE DMV-13

Mr. Stevens indicated the only difference in budget closures was an increase by the Assembly in the privilege tax revenue in the Field Services account by $900,000 in the first year of the biennium and $1.2 million in the second year. The Executive Budget maintained the privilege tax as a flat revenue source in each year of the biennium, as compared to the FY2000 actual. Mr. Stevens pointed out that staff was in receipt of projections from the agency, which had been utilized in the Assembly closure.

Senator Raggio suggested that the Senate concur with the Assembly closure of the Field Services budget.

SENATOR MATHEWS MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET FOR THE DMV, FIELD SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASSEMBLY CLOSURE.

SENATOR RAWSON SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (Senator Neal and Senator O’Donnell were not present for the vote).

BUDGET CLOSED.

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With no further business to come before the Joint Committee, the hearing was adjourned at 9:53 a.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Carol Thomsen

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

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Senator William R. Raggio, Chairman

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